System integrating display interface and control interface of running machine

ABSTRACT

A system that integrates a graphic display and a control interface of a running machine includes a graphic display, a top control unit for receiving biological information and control information having at least running speed information so as to show the information on the graphic display according to one of mode setting choices on the graphic display and a control device operably connected to the graphic display and the top control unit so as to transmit a control signal for control of the running machine. Therefore, a user is able to use the control information on the graphic display to send a command to the control device so as to accomplish interaction requirements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an integrating system, and moreparticularly to an integrating system for integrating a displayinterface and a control interface of a running machine.

2. Description of Related Art

With reference to FIG. 1, a conventional running machine is shown. Theconventional running machine is composed of a control console 12, a topcontrol unit 10, a bottom control unit 14, a running board 20, a runningbelt 22 and a transmission subsystem which includes an elevation motor18 and a running belt motor 16.

The elevation motor 18 is able to change the inclination of the runningboard 20 via an elevation post (not shown) and the running belt motor 16is able to control the rotation of the running belt 22. Therefore, whena runner presses buttons on the control console 12 to control the speedof the running belt 22, a command is transmitted from the top controlunit 10 to the bottom control unit 14, which in turn changes therotation speed of the running belt 22 and the inclination of the runningboard 20.

As the consumer's demands vary, running machine manufacturers providedifferent running machines to meet the demands. For example, a runnerwants to exercise his/her endurance and strength after warning up, therunning machine will automatically adjust inclination of the runningboard 20 for simulating an uphill scenario after detecting that therunner has run for a mile. Later, for the purpose of providing a chanceto take a rest, the running machine will automatically adjust theinclination of the running board 20 and the rotation speed of therunning belt 22. However, in order to accomplish various demands, therunning machine is equipped with large quantity of buttons andcomplicated setting procedures, which affects customers' buying desire.Further, if a heart beat monitoring device 24 a is mounted on bothhandles 24, the control console 12 is difficult to read, let alone toproperly set the machine in the desired mode.

In addition, to prevent accidents of all kinds, a running machine isequipped with an emergency stop mechanism. The mechanism has twoterminals respectively connected to a magnetic seat 26 a formed on thetop control unit 10 via a magnetic connector 26 b formed on a distal endof a rope 26 c and the runner via a clip 26 d formed on a proximal endof the rope 26 c. Under normal conditions, the magnetic connector 26 bis connected to the magnetic seat 26 a and the clip 26 d is connected tothe runner. If the runner is tripped or falls to the running belt 22,the magnetic connector 26 b is pulled away from the magnetic seat 26 a,which results in that the electrical connection in the top control unit10 is cut off and thus the machine is terminated. However, in thisemergency stop mechanism, the complete shutoff mechanism depends solelyon the termination of the bottom control unit 14 to cut off theoperation of the transmission subsystem, which delays the respond timeto emergency.

To overcome the aforementioned disadvantages, the present inventiontends to provide an improved integrating system for integration betweena display interface and a controlling interface to obviate theaforementioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an improvedsystem for integrating a display interface and a control interface of arunning machine.

From one aspect of the present invention, the integrating system of thepresent invention is able to graphically present control information onthe graphic display so that the user is able to use the controlinformation to transmit controlling demands to accomplish interactionwith the running machine.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a conventional running machine;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing the integration system forintegrating the display interface and the control interface; and

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic views showing the graphic display of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 2, the running machine in accordance with thepresent invention includes a graphic display 28, a top control unit 30and a remote control 32. Because the bottom control unit 14,transmission subsystem 34 (element 16 and 18), running board 20, runningbelt 22 and the heat beat monitor 24 a are the same as those disclosedin the prior art, detailed description thereof is omitted for clarity.It is noted that the connection of the emergency stop mechanism (26 a-26d) is not the same as that disclosed in the prior art. Also the controldevice may be mounted on the touch panel (not shown) of the graphicinterface 28. The graphic interface 28 may be a liquid crystal display,a plasma display, CRT monitor, or a projector. The heat beat monitor 24a may be applied to measure blood pressure, pulse, muscle signal and maybe replaced by any suitable devices that can detect the aboveinformation.

With reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, after the top control unit 30receives information (possibly transmitted by the remote control 32)such as biological information (possibly transmitted by the heat beatmonitor 24 a), the received information will be presented on the graphicdisplay 28 so that the runner is able to use the specific buttons on theremote control 32 to interact with the integration system of the presentinvention and every information will be shown on the graphic display 28.Therefore, when compared with the conventional running machine, the userwill no longer deal with complicated buttons to control complex settingmodes and only use the remote control 32 to proceed with choices andsetting. As a consequence, the user is able to use the remote control 32to control the bottom control unit 14 so as to simultaneously orrespectively control the motor 16 and the elevation motor 18 of thetransmission subsystem 34.

With reference to FIG. 3B, it is noted that the graphic display 28 isable to changed to adapt to different customer requirements. Forexample, the top control unit 30 is able to show information such ascontrol information or biological information or any other calculatedinformation on the graphic display 28. The mode setting informationpreferably may be stored in a memory card 38 readable for a card reader36 which is operably connected to the top control unit 30.

With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, it is noted that there are threedifferent mode setting choices 28 a, 28 b and 28 c on the graphicdisplay 28. If the mode is set according to the information in modesetting choice 28 b, the top control unit 30 will automatically displayrunning speed, running slope and heart beat on the graphic display 28.Furthermore, prior running history information will also be presented onthe graphic display 28 in curve pattern for comparison.

When running speed is to be adjusted, the runner is able to move theoption via the buttons on the remote control 32 to running speed. Thenthe runner is able to use the control button on the remote control 32 toadjust the numeral on the graphic display 28, which not only adjusts thenumeral i.e. 15 as shown on the graphic display 28, but also adjust therotation speed of the running belt (as shown in FIG. 2) via signalstransmitted by the top control unit 30. When the mode setting choice ismoved to 28 c, because there is no information the same as that storedin mode setting choice 28 b, the graphic display 28 will be showingdifferent information to what is shown on the graphic display 28 whenthe mode is set according to mode setting choice 28 b. For example,there will no more running speed, running slope, heart beat and priorrunning history on the graphic display 28.

When the integration system of the present invention further has a videotransformer (not shown), the top control unit 30 may be provided withmultiple video/audio interfaces to receive video information and thendisplay on the graphic display 28. Therefore, the user is able to usethe video/audio transformer to watch/listen to pictures and music storedin DVD, VCD, CD, or MP3 from the graphic display 28 or speakers (notshown). Furthermore, a switch may be provided on the top control unit 30so that the user is able to switch from control screen showing differentbiological or control information to selected screen showing specificpicture. Also, to facilitate the control of screen change, the switchmay be mounted on the handle 24 as shown in FIG. 2. In addition, toprevent accidents of all kinds, a running machine is equipped with anemergency stop mechanism. The mechanism has two terminals respectivelyconnected to a magnetic seat 26 a formed on the bottom control unit 14via a magnetic connector 26 b formed on a distal end of a rope 26 c andthe runner via a clip 26 d formed on a proximal end of the rope 26 c.Under normal conditions, the magnetic connector 26 b is connected to themagnetic seat 26 a and the clip 26 d is connected to the runner. If therunner is tripped or falls to the running belt 22, the magneticconnector 26 b is pulled away from the magnetic seat 26 a, which resultsin that the electrical connection in the bottom control unit 14 is cutoff and thus the machine is terminated. Because the transmissionsubsystem 34 is terminated directly without the influence from the topcontrol unit 30, the runner's safety is ensured.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the presentinvention have been set forth in the foregoing description, togetherwith details of the structure and function of the invention, thedisclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail,especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts withinthe principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by thebroad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims areexpressed.

1. A system for integrating a graphic display and a control interface ofa running machine, the integrating system comprising: a graphic display;a top control unit for receiving biological information and controlinformation having at least running speed information so as to show theinformation on the graphic display according to one of mode settingchoices on the graphic display; and a control device operably connectedto the graphic display and the top control unit so as to transmit acontrol signal for control of the running machine, whereby a user isable to use the control information on the graphic display to send acommand to the control device so as to accomplish interactionrequirements.
 2. The integrating system as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe control device may be selected from a group consisting of a remotecontrol and a touch panel.
 3. The integrating system as claimed in claim1 further comprising a video/audio transformer having multiplevideo/audio interfaces for receiving and processing video or audioinformation so as to send processed video or audio signal to the topcontrol unit and a switch to switch among control information,biological information, or specific video/audio information such thatthe top control unit is able to display or play the specific video/videoinformation via the graphic display or a speaker.
 4. The integratingsystem as claimed in claim 3, wherein the video/audio information isselected from a group consisting of DVD, VCD, CD, or MP3.
 5. Theintegrating system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an adjustingdevice adapted to be mounted on handles of the running machine forsending a control signal to the top control unit.
 6. The integratingsystem as claimed in claim 1, wherein the graphic display is selectedfrom a group consisting of a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, aCRT screen or a projector.
 7. The integrating system as claimed in claim1, wherein the graphic display has multiple mode setting choices storedin a memory card readable for a card reader.
 8. The integrating systemas claimed in claim 1, wherein the graphic display has multiple modesetting choices stored in a memory readable for the top control unit. 9.The integrating system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a bottomcontrol unit controlled by the top control unit to control atransmission subsystem.
 10. The integrating system as claimed in claim9, wherein the transmission subsystem includes a motor for controllingrotation speed of a running belt of the running machine so as to adjustspeed o the running belt.
 11. The integrating system as claimed in claim9, wherein the transmission subsystem includes an elevation motor forelevating a running board of the running machine so as to control slopeof the running belt.
 12. The integrating system as claimed in claim 9further comprising an emergency stop mechanism which includes twoterminals respectively connected to a magnetic seat formed on the bottomcontrol unit via a magnetic connector formed on a distal end of a ropeand the runner via a clip formed on a proximal end of the rope such thatwhen the runner is tripped or falls to the running belt, the magneticconnector is pulled away from the magnetic seat, which results in thatthe electrical connection in the bottom control unit is cut off and thusthe machine is terminated.
 13. The integrating system as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the biological information includes blood pressure,pulse, muscle signal or any other measured information.